Opinions Vary On Doctrinal Petition

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31728, 11 July 1968, Page 7

Opinions Vary On Doctrinal Petition

Opinion differed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Presbytery of Christchurch on a petition on the Articles of Faith of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, being circulated by the Presbyterian Laymen’s Association. “Many people have tender feelings about this matter and the Presbytery would be unwise to do anything which would appear to be a repudiation of faith,” said the Rev. G. L. Gosling, editor of the church’s newspaper “Outlook”. Mr GosHng was speaking of a letter which’ had been drafted by the steering committee of the Presbytery, which was intended to give guidance to parish sessions on the petition. “I think we should let this petition be discussed by the whole church. I am not in favour of petitions but I think that this one must be treated calmly. Any block that was placed in its road by the Presbytery would only serve to build emotions,” Mr Gosling said. Mr N, Sheat, of the Malvern parish, said the letter did not present a clear picture of the petition and it was slanted to read that the Presbytery was not in favour of the petition. The letter seemed to be loaded against the sessions seeing the petition in a favourable light, said the Rev. R. H. Wells, of New Brighton. “I would not be a party to stifling any group which wished to discuss this matter within the framework of the church. There are people in our church who have differing points of view, and al-

though we may not agree with these, I think they should be given an opportunity to give their point of view,” said the Rev. L. J. Jones, of St Paul’s Church. No decision on the letter was made. A request for guidance on the petition from the St Giles Parish Session, Was referred to the Presbytery’s committee on doctrine.